(ATR) The Calgary Bid Exploration Committee says it’s feasible for the 1988 host city to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The question remains whether it is the prudent thing to do.
CBEC, citing changes in the bidding process that have yet to be unveiled by the IOC, says more work is needed before the city should make a decision on a 2026 bid.
"We know we can do it," CBEC chairman Rick Hanson, the former Calgary police chief, told city councillors on Monday.
"Now it’s up to council to give us more time to have further conversation with the IOC and other levels of government [to find] where there are potential cost savings and to research further how we can reach the best financial deal."
Hanson added "We shouldn’t rush into a conclusion or recommendation without all the relevant facts."
The Council will have to wait another week to hear from the city administration. Calgary city staff say they need the additional time to review CBEC’s recommendation before making their own decision.
The administration will appear before the council on July 31 to give its recommendation and answer questions.
Given the IOC’s recent decision to push back deadlines and change its candidature requirements for 2026, it appears likely that the city administration will also back taking more time before deciding on a possible bid.
Hanson says the IOC has been working with CBEC after his committee presented the findings of a months-long study to the Calgary city council in June.
CBEC estimated a cost of CAN $4.6 billion (US $3.68 billion) for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About half of the cost, or CAN $2.2 billion (US $1.76 billion), would be covered by revenue from the Games. The remaining CAN $2.4 billion (US $1.92 billion) in funding would need to be raised to account for the full Games cost.
At that time, the IOC released a statement saying "While we have not seen the detail of Calgary’s draft budget, we remain confident that by working together to refine operational planning, that opportunities exist for significant savings."
Written by Gerard Farek
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